The need for an environment filled with mutual understanding rather than heated debate was the focus of an open forum about the controversy surrounding Catt Hall, Thursday afternoon.

“I’m glad that people are discussing the issues and acknowledging both sides of the issue,” said Leslie Ries, an animal ecology major. She said she is happy to see people recognizing that all heroes have had good and bad sides.

“We need to look at the totality rather than just focusing on the good or the bad,” she said.

The forum, which was led by Terri Houston, assistant dean of students, was held in the Oak Room of the Memorial Union Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. Representatives from both sides of the issue as well as the campus and Ames communities were in attendance.

Judy Dolphin, the director of the Ames YWCA, said questions about Catt’s racial comments arose in the planning of the dedication of Catt Hall and even when the idea originally surfaced in 1983.

“I’m here to say that the committee worked very hard to have the issues talked about,” Dolphin said.

She said the Iowa Humanities Board gave a grant to the planning committee for the purpose of facilitating the discussion of any problems that might arise. The committee used the grant to put together a panel that was to discuss the issue, but that didn’t happen.

“The panel didn’t answer questions that needed answered,” Dolphin said. She also said the committee was “very disappointed” by the fact that the issues were not addressed. But, she said, she wanted to let people know that the controversy surrounding Catt was not overlooked.

Rose Swenson, president of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, said she feels Catt deserves to have a building named after her.

She said buildings all over campus are named for students from ISU who accomplished great things, as well as for people who contributed money to the university.

“I feel Carrie Chapman Catt fits into both of those categories,” Swenson said. She said Catt made contributions to the university as a prominent student and also contributed $100,000 to the university.

On the other side of the issue, Monic Muldrew, a sophomore in MIS, said renaming the building is about more than just the building itself.

“I’m sad that people think we’re stopping with the Carrie Chapman Catt issue,” she said.

Muldrew said she is sorry if anyone is offended by the movement to rename Catt Hall, but there are people who are honestly offended by some of the things Catt said.

She also said this issue should be looked at as a stepping stone to making African American students and citizens more visible and prominent.

“I would like to see some bricks in the middle of campus with black women’s names and accomplishments on them,” Muldrew said.

During the discussion, the idea surfaced that there could be a plaque placed inside Catt Hall discussing the controversy over the name of the building.

“The plaque would show that Catt was courageous in what she did, but that there was more to the issue,” said Uche Nnadi, an economics major who presented the idea of the plaque.

Nnadi said something like the plaque is needed because the issue does not end with the name of the building.

“The climate isn’t going to change by changing the name of the building,” she said.

Muldrew also wanted to know if women who have a brick in front of the building can get it back if they so desire. Her question was answered that the removal of bricks will be addressed on an individual basis, and people wishing to have a brick removed should contact the ISU Foundation. As the conversation wound down, Houston and many of the participants encouraged that the constructive dialogue continue in the future.

“We need to continue to talk about these issues,” Houston said.

Thursday’s forum was the first in a series of discussions to be held. Anyone wishing to have his or her opinion on the matter heard is welcome to attend the next discussion. It will be held on April 17 in the South Ball Room of the Memorial Union. A time has not yet been determined.